Storing a Battery for Winter
Storing a Battery in the off-season
Storing a battery for winter or off-season is an important thing you can do to prolong the life of your battery. And the good news is that there are just a few easy steps to follow.
Clean
If there are signs of electrolyte (acid) on the outside of your battery or the terminals, clean with a solution of baking soda and water or a battery cleaner such as NOCO Battery Cleaner. It’s important to make sure that nothing enters the battery during cleaning. You can also use this same solution to clean the battery compartment of the vehicle to help neutralize any electrolyte that may be present. Rinse with clean water and dry thoroughly.
Inspect
Once your battery is cleaned, check for any signs of damage that may have occurred while in service. If you have any concerns about the condition of your battery, you should seek the advice of a mechanic or a battery specialist.
Fill and Charge
If your battery is a conventional flooded battery you will need to check the electrolyte (acid) levels. The level of electrolyte needs to be be maintained above the minimum and at or below the maximum level line on the side of the battery. Check only when on a flat level service. If you need to increase the level, carefully add distilled water avoiding any overfill. Once the levels are adjusted, charge the battery referring to the manufacturers instructions.
Sealed VRLA , AGM batteries, or those referred to as “Maintenance Free” do not require you to maintain the electrolyte levels. Sealed batteries must never be opened once in service or permanent damage and failure will occur. As with the conventional flooded batteries, once you have cleaned and inspected the battery, charge it per the manufacturers instructions.
Store and monitor
When your battery is fully charged, you should store it in a cool, dry area away from children and pets. You should check the state of charge periodically through out the off season – usually every 3 months is a good rule of thumb – and charge it up if necessary. Using a NOCO GEN charger or Battery Tender charger is a quick and easy solution. Never leave your charger plugged in indefinitely – although todays’ chargers are “smart” they should not be left unattended.
With these few easy steps you can store your battery properly for winter and help extend your batteries life!
If you want some summer battery care advice, see our battery tips for summer maintenance.
